Bible: 1 Cor 7:17-40

The Circumstances of Your Calling

7:17Nevertheless,1asthe Lordhas assignedto each one, asGodhas calledeach person, somust he live. I givethis sort of directioninallthe churches.7:18Was anyonecalledafterhe had been circumcised? He shouldnottry to undo his circumcision.2Was anyonecalledwho is uncircumcised? He shouldnotget circumcised.7:19Circumcisionisnothinganduncircumcisionisnothing. Instead, keepingGod’scommandmentsis what counts.7:20Leteach oneremaininthatsituationin life3 in whichhe was called.7:21Were you calledas a slave?4 Donotworryabout it. Butifindeed you are ableto befree, makethe mostof the opportunity.7:22Forthe one who was calledinthe Lordas a slaveisthe Lord’sfreedman. In the same way, the one who was calledas a free personisChrist’sslave.7:23You were boughtwith a price. Donotbecomeslavesof men.7:24Inwhatever situationsomeonewas called, brothers and sisters,5let him remaininitwithGod.

Remaining Unmarried

7:25With regardto the question about people who have never married,6I havenocommandfromthe Lord, butI givemy opinionasone shown mercybythe Lordto betrustworthy.7:26Because ofthe impending crisisI thinkit bestfor you to remainas you are.7:27The one boundto a wifeshouldnotseekdivorce. The one releasedfroma wifeshouldnotseekmarriage.77:28Butifyou marry, you havenotsinned. Andifa virginmarries, she hasnotsinned. Butthose who marry will facedifficult circumstances,8and Iam trying to spareyousuch problems.97:29AndI saythis, brothers and sisters:10 The timeisshort. So thenthose who havewivesshould beasthose who havenone,7:30those with tearslikethose notweeping, those who rejoicelikethose notrejoicing, those who buylikethose withoutpossessions,7:31those who usethe worldas thoughthey werenotusingit to the full. Forthe present shapeof thisworldis passing away.

7:32AndI wantyouto befree from concern. An unmarried manis concernedabout the things of the Lord, howto pleasethe Lord.7:33Buta married manis concernedabout the things of the world, howto pleasehis wife,7:34andhe is divided. An unmarriedwoman11ora virgin12is concernedabout the things of the Lord, to be holybothin bodyandspirit. Buta married womanis concernedabout the things of theworld, howto pleaseher husband.7:35I am sayingthisfor yourbenefit, nottoplacea limitationon you, butso that without distractionyou may give notableandconstant serviceto the Lord.

7:36Ifanyonethinks he is acting inappropriatelytowardhisvirgin,13ifshe ispast the bloom of youth14andit seemsnecessary, he should do whathe wishes; he doesnotsin. Let them marry.7:37Butthe man who is firminhiscommitment, and is undernonecessitybuthascontroloverhiswill, andhas decidedinhis ownmindto keephis ownvirgin, doeswell.7:38So then, the one who marries15his ownvirgindoeswell, butthe one who doesnot, doesbetter.16